Glenn.. at the time your post arrived, I was home watching boxing on TV.
As for a background color, I prefer a neutral grey or something like photo grey.. i.e..:15% grey.
Eons ago, when we shot film and used light meters, we held a grey card up to take a light reading as the 15% grey was neutral. This is what you should have as a backdrop.
As was said, white will overpower the image by possibly reflecting light onto the piece where you don't want it. Black will work for keeping accurate color in that for shooting flat art for reproduction, I have my back wall painted black so the light reflecting off the wall doesn't add anything to the piece. Black might not always work for 3D pieces as you might not get a definitive edge of the piece like you would with a grey background.
Any color around your subject can impart that color onto it by reflecting colored light onto the piece.
The color of the light also has an effect on the look of the piece you are shooting.
This chart might help understand color of the light you use.
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